Letters to a Young Mormon by Adam Miller

I did a sort of joint review of this book at Times & Seasons.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Mapmaker's Daughter by Laurel Corona

It really irks me when historical fiction forgets or ignores the fact that people in times past did not have the same mind-set (supporting feminism, individualism, self-determination, etc.) that we have today. But I can almost forgive this book for committing that most common of sins because the setting was so interesting. But the plotting and writing were pretty mediocre, and the setting wasn't enough to overcome all of those weaknesses.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Sycamore Row by John Grisham

I actually kind of liked this.

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

meh

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

I can't figure out why this book has won so many awards and why everyone seems to love it. There were a few bright spots here, but it really did nothing for me.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Growing Up Duggar by Jill, Jinger, Jessa, and Jana Duggar

So I'm not exactly the target audience for this book--that would be teen evangelical girls who don't find it odd to get advice from people barely older than they are. Instead, I read this with my anthropologist hat on; I am somewhat embarrassed to admit to my fascination with the Duggars, but I find their approach to Christianity/parenting/homeschooling/lifestyle to be lovely, compelling, and horrifying. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

I'm normally a huge Liane Moriarty fangirl, but there were way too many subplots here and this just didn't work.

Mr. Revere and I by Robert Lawson

I read this to the boys. Maybe my expectations were too high because Ben and Me was so good, but I didn't love this.

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

Decent.

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Lots of great wisps of material here, but it just didn't come together for me.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Bread and Butter by Michelle Wildgen

I liked this.  You don't normally get emotional drama between three male characters.  And the food was great--the book kept making me hungry.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

The Winter People: A Novel

This started out so strongly--good characters, suspense, nice plot--but then kind of fell apart at the end.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

I'm a total sucker for Liane Moriarty. I love Australian chick lit!

The Book of Jonah by Joshua Feldman

Great premise, muddled execution.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

I really liked this.

My Name Is Not Angelica by Scott O'Dell

I read this to the boys. It was decent. If you have particularly sensitive children, the depictions of slavery might be a bit much for them (I did a little bit of editing on the fly as I read.)

A Star for Mrs. Blake by April Smith

Great potential but merely average execution.

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

I really enjoyed this: a unique plot, clever writing, witty, some moments of depth.

The Last Aloha by Gaellen Quinn

Excellent historical fiction and a clever set-up where the protagonist doesn't realize the many ways that she is being used (but the reader does). But it did drag in some parts.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I was completely charmed by the beginning of this book. Then it became somewhat predictable (but still a little charming.)

Promise Land by Jessica Lamb-Shapiro

I like the idea of light non-fiction, but this one went too far. And it went in too many directions, especially given the autobiographical aspects. This just didn't work.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

I'm not a sophisticated reader of novels--I either enter into them and love them, or I don't. This one I loved. Recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Perfect by Rachel Joyce

Unusual, engaging, not perfect, a really good read.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

I read this to the boys. It was decent.

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

Decent.

Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming

This was somewhere between "meh" and "decent." My ardent enjoyment of this series has really wavered. The elements that made the first books so much fun are gone.